Loss of beloved pets is painful for everyone

Nov. 1, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Editor, the Advocate:

I'm writing this letter in response to Sharon Mathiews' letter regarding the loss of her pets. My wife and I empathize with the grief and anguish that the Mathiews are going through. As pet owners, we've also had to cope with the loss of a pet. It is very saddening and not something one gets over easily.

While the Siamese was relatively new to us, the calico had been a regular visitor to our home for years. The calico and our Yorkshire would play and otherwise hang out in our backyard. The cats liked to bask in the sun on our patio and chase lizards and the occasional squirrel. The Siamese was a relative newcomer, very young and possessed a gentle disposition.

So I hope you can understand my dismay when they accused me of having done harm to their cats. I can't conceive of the things they accuse me of, and I wonder how they could have conceived of it themselves. Had anyone wanted to see the cats or dogs go away, they would only have had to complain to the housing association, which limits the number of pets to two. We didn't care how many pets they have. They keep their two dogs under control, and as stated earlier, we were happy to be a part of their cats' extended family.

I attribute misdirected grief as a factor in these accusations. I can appreciate their having lost sleep over this incident as both my wife and I have lost sleep over being accused of a crime we can't even imagine.

My wife, Kaye, and I are vegetarians and don't condone the mistreatment of animals. Our son, raised according to our values, has been a contributing member of the SPCA and continues to engage in the rights and protection of all animals.